Peer suggests women remove hijabs to ‘show solidarity’ during International Women’s Day debate

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Young Muslim women within the UK ought to remove their hijabs for an hour to “show solidarity with their sisters” in Iran, a former minister has stated.

One peer may very well be heard exclaiming “why?” as Lord Young of Norwood Green made the comment during the International Women’s Day debate.

Lord Young instructed the chamber: “In Iran there are young women who are laying down their lives for the right to dress as they wish, for the right to wear a hijab or not to wear a hijab.

“And the thought occurred to me that if young Muslim women in this country could show solidarity with their sisters in Iran and just take off their hijabs for an hour it might be a powerful gesture in the cause of women internationally.”

Lord Young went on to say he may see that “I haven’t pleased anybody” in his speech, including: “My noble friend here is shaking her head, but nevertheless that’s the benefit of the Lords – we have a wide range of views.”

Anti-government protests in Iran erupted in 2022 after Mahsa Amini’s loss of life within the custody of the nation’s morality police.

She was detained in Tehran for allegedly sporting her hijab “improperly” and never to the liking of the authorities.

She was introduced to Iran’s Vozara detention facility to endure a “re-education class”, however collapsed after 26 minutes and was taken to a hospital half-hour later, in accordance to the report.

On Friday a United Nations fact-finding mission stated Iran is liable for the “physical violence” that led to the loss of life of rhe 22-year-old was din September 2022 and sparked nationwide protests towards the nation’s ruling theocracy.

It additionally discovered that the Islamic Republic employed “unnecessary and disproportionate use of lethal force” to put down the demonstrations that erupted following Ms Amini‘s loss of life, and that Iranian safety forces sexually assaulted detainees.

The months-long safety crackdown killed greater than 500 individuals and noticed over 22,000 detained.

Iran has denied being liable for her loss of life or that she had been crushed. At occasions, authorities have pointed to a medical situation Ms Amini had from childhood after a surgical procedure. The UN report dismissed that as a reason behind her loss of life.

The panel “has established the existence of evidence of trauma to Ms Amini‘s body, inflicted while in the custody of the morality police”, the report says.

There was no fast touch upon the report from Iran.